(USB/Net)HostFS Walkthroughs

USBHostFS and NETHostFS are applications for PSP-PC connectivity, instead of only PC-PSP. They make it so that the PSP is using the PC as the storage device, instead of the other way around. This can be done with Wi-fi, or USB. Popular applications that make use of this tool are iRshell and Devhook (GUI mod). Please note that this tutorial is for Windows PC's only; OSX and linux versions are around on http://dl.qj.net. Download them, read the readme to install, and carry on from STEP 2, exluding the part where you download PSPLink, and install the drivers. There should be instructions in the README of the OSX/Linux version of USBHostFS you downloaded.

Those versions are only supported by the creators of the programs themselves, unless stated otherwise in the program's documentation. We here at PSPG cannot provide an support.

I'm going to concentrate on using the tools with iRshell, but this can easily be adapted to work with Devhook (GUI mod).

Tutorial for using USBHostFS with iRshell

First, download the USBHostFS file. You can download it HERE, from my server. Save it to your desktop; If you're in IE, don't press 'Run'!            NOTE: If that file causes you errors, download and use THIS ONE instead.

Save it into a safe place. 

Step 1 - Configuring and setting up the PC. 

Now, you need to decide something; will you be using your USBhost to redirect files to a memory stick duplication, or just to browser the files on a hard-drive?

For the second option, copy the file to the root of the drive you want to browse, and then just double click on the EXE file and you're away. If you don't like the window being there, download '4T tray minimizer Free'. It allows you to hide any window in the system tray (In the bottom-right bar). Google it. =p

For the first, move the EXE file into the ROOT of your fake memory stick. By this, I mean a folder containing all the folders and files that a PSP's memory stick would have; such as ISO, PSP (GAME, PHOTO etc), MP_ROOT and all the rest. This is for redirecting all the PSP's requests for access to the memory stick* to be redirected to that directory over USB. So, if you chose to launch the XMB, the XMB would load all music from 'usbhost0:\PSP\Music', Video from 'nethost0:\MP_ROOT\xxxxxxx', and the rest; (You get the idea). 

*The actual memory stick is relocated to 'ms1:\' instead of 'ms0:\'.

Now, close the USBHostFS.exe window. 

 Step 2 - Using USBHostFS in iRshell.

First of all, make sure you're running the latest version of Ahman's magificent program, iRshell. (At the time of writing, 3.00). To download it, search http://dl.qj.net for 'irshell'. Also, download PSPlink v1.1.

When PSPlink is finished, unzip the archive, and browse to the directory: 'psplink_1.1/pc/windows/driver'. Copy the contents to an empty folder.

Once iRshell is downloaded, unzip read the included install.txt file and, if you're new to iRshell, the User guide.pdf. Once you've got EVERYTHING installed, open iRshell from the Game>Memory Stick area in the XMB. Once launched, Press [R]+[Start] to enter the configurator. Fill in all the settings as appropriate, and press [O] when you're finished. Pay particular attention to the bit with all the IP address stuff. That area is where all the connectivity options are.

When you've pressed [O], you'll return to the icon menu; (If not, Press [Select). Now, here's the cool bit.

•  If you've set up USBHostFS to browse the a drive, press [Select], and press the [ □] (Square) button until you get to the Directory or memory stick view.  When you do, press [▲] (Triangle) until you get four options, one of which being 'USBHost0'. Plug in the USB cable, and press [X] on USBhost0:\.                                                                                       The PC will soon detect new hardware; when it does, choose to specify the path the drivers are stored in. Find the place where you saved the drivers from earlier, and select that folder. Keep pressing next, until the drivers install. When it has, press [▲] (Triangle) on the PSP, and start USBhostFS.exe from the place you saved it on the PC. If all was successful, try opening USBhost0 from iRshell again, and you should see a list of folders and files. You can use normal file operations on these; including copying. When you want to copy, copy the file from nethostfs0 and paste it in ms0.
• If you've set the USB host up in a fake memory stick, go to the icon menu in iRshell. To do this, press [Select], if you're not already in there. There's an icon on the third line down, three across that says 'USBhost redirection'. If that's not it, then find it. Press [X] on it. The PC will soon detect new hardware; when it does, choose to specify the path the drivers are stored in. Find the place where you saved the drivers from earlier, and select that folder. Keep pressing next, until the drivers install. When it has, press [X] on the USBhost (NOT the USBhost redirection) icon. It should be on the right hand side of USBhost redirection. Start USBHOSTFS.exe, and press on the USBhost redirection icon on the PSP. If all goes well, some connection information should pop up in the window.

  With USBhost redirection, browsing the MS0 drive on the PSP will browse the fake memory stick if successful. A good way to test, is to put a small image in the PSP\PHOTO folder of the fake memory stick, launching the XMB in iRshell with [L]+[^] (Left trigger and D-pad UP), and clicking on Photo in the launched XMB. If the image appears, it's successful. Now, you can launch applications that load files from the fake memory stick, instead of the real one. The loading times are a little slower, but you could effectively have unlimited space.

Note: If  the 'Redirect APP view to host' option is enabled in the iRshell configurator, then the application view in iRshell will load from USB.

Tutorial for using USBHostFS with iRshell 

Jcoolkatzerg, an intelligent fellow PSP hacker has kindly written me a guide for using NetHostFS. I've made no edits yet, so it's 'hot from the oven', so to speak. As he explains, you should have basic knowledge of the Windows command line before attempting this, so if you're inexperienced, brush up on simple commands and usage.

If there's any part of this tutorial you don't understand (some of it could be difficult to the less-experienced), give me or Jcoolkatzerg a buzz and we'll let the other know what changes can be made to the tutorial to make it a little easier.  Also, if you don't understand, it's a great idea to read the readme from iRshell or google for help. In fact, you could even just post at PSP3D.com (Where Jcoolkatzerg and I both lurk), and someone will help you. 

This tutorial is based upon the Windows platform; the DOS command line only comes on one OS, and that's its' parent, Windows.

So, I'll expect you want to get down to business? Great, here we go!